Last Friday we took the camper to a park about 50 miles from Mt St Helens, just to get out of Dodge for a few days. Almost as an afterthought the next day, we decided to drive the 50-mile road that winds toward the summit and go nose around.

The only other time we’d been here was heavily overcast with no chance of seeing this volcano. I’ve flown over the area many times, so have seen the destroyed peak and bleak landscape from 30,000 feet. Our Saturday was clear and warm.

Herewith, perhaps too many photos to illustrate those 8 hours we messed about. (N.B. Click on any photo in a section and they’ll get bigger!)

mt st helens 60 miles away

volcano 40 miles away

volcano blew its top right off!

that was a river of ash and mud

imagine this valley flattened

33-year regrowth

We continued tootling up the road, along sections of the Toutle River that were devastated in the explosion.

visitors — two volcanoes

two volcanoes

the terrain was re-fashioned after the blast

regrowth along the valley walls

look at the clouds heading for the mountain! and shadows cast…

For the gawkers, the smart powers-that-be constructed many waysides and several complex interpretive centers. I kept wondering about having to rebuild if the mountain blew again…. We’re a peculiar species. I digress.

bunker potty near the end of the road–I’m trying to imagine the request for proposal: need blast-proof potty in case the mountain blows again. Maybe we’re supposed to hide in their for a few weeks?!

We found a wayside about 20 miles (?) away from the mountain, just a parking lot with three interpretive signs, no facilities, and a knock-em-dead view of the peak and surrounding terrain. We had the camper (with a potty!). We lingered. Had lunch al fresco, had naps, and I did laundry because I dumped a cup of tomato juice right into my only bag of clothes. Sigh… !!

the terrain was re-fashioned after the blast

timber blow-down

sun dogs–there’s moisture aloft

signage was interesting

nice hangin’ out spot, huh?!

from the same viewing area–the mountain hollowed itself out

the afternoon clouds are forming near the mountain

more mountain, lake, afternoon moisture in the air

here come the clouds — the mountain is making its own weather because that’s what they do!

mid-afternoon contrails

hills still not recovered

most visitors make only short stops here, except for us!

Big Mister’s hot turkey lunch that we ate outside enjoying the sun dogs and corona around the sun

Our final view of the mountain at that spot:

late afternoon and the clouds bathe the broken peak

The clouds continued to thicken. Sunday the cloud deck was so low that there was no hint of a peak. Weren’t we smart to go up the road on Saturday?!

We took kitty Calpurrnia with us because she needs three medicines twice a day, though we’d rather leave her home with Ooper. They probably snuggle up when we’re not looking. … Nah… Not sure how much longer she’ll be with us, our old girl, and it grieves me deeply to think of her fuzzy tortoise-shell self absent.

The camper road trips are quite demanding of me, but I recover faster now, which inspires lasting hope instead of mere pockets clung to in desperation.

Interesting cruising...

NeoWatercolour
“NeoWatercolour is more off-beat than traditional watercolour approaches, and aims to capture the everyday, often mundane scenes of local life, in a vibrant, colourful and inspirational way.”

Usyaka: Photos of the oriental cat
“oriental shorthairs are cats that love talking, taking part in all activities their humans do, touching things with their “hands”, looking in the eyes and being all weird, warm, emotional martian creatures.”

Dreams Incognito
“Let us explore, together, how this movement Method works. How wriggling around can transform us into those whose dreams incognito become known, acknowledged, confessed, affirmed – and realized.”

10000 hours to be
“I believe, investing 10,000 hours into something is more about the character attributes of commitment, perseverance, resilience, and focus.

Serenity Spell
“The Everglades: highlight the interconnectivity of ALL species, revealing the worthiness and oneness of the tiniest creature, the most ancient tree…to the most universal — and so celebrate the divinity of all life.”

me, mine and other bits
N. Ireland “tales from the middle age, rants, book reviews, music snippets, links to better writers, and family chaos. Also, some rubbish photography.”

Reinventing the Event Horizon
“I’m writing a memoir about growing up in an organized crime family. This blog documents my encounters on the edge–both living in underdeveloped countries where luxuries are lacking and, at the same time, living with the challenges of bipolar disor

heretherebespiders
“I’m an expatriate American living in Ireland. I’ve oodles of interests: some of them are art, cooking, gardening, politics, writing (well, duh) and driving my Harley. And, of course, my furry family.”

catself
Cat to Self: The Conversation. Don’t be fooled by the cats in the title: her writing is richly expressive and thoughtful.

Cats & Co
“Your cat is your teacher, open up and they can teach you beautiful things.”